Image processing device

ABSTRACT

An image processing device is structured such that an appropriate judgement of an image, at which blurring or disappearance or the like will occur, is possible. When pixels, which form a line image at which there is the possibility that blurring or disappearance will occur at the time of printing by using a printing plate, are extracted, a line image warning function gives notice by displaying a warning message on a monitor of a client terminal. Thereafter, image converting and print setting are carried out such that an extracted line image is clarified. In this way, when a proof is prepared, an image, at which there is the possibility that blurring or disappearance will occur on a printed matter obtained by using a printing plate, is clarified, and appropriate proofing is possible.

This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 11/647,256, filed Dec. 29,2006, which in turn is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 10/175,450,filed Jun. 20, 2002. This application claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2001-187236, filed Jul. 25, 2002. The disclosuresof the prior applications are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an image processing device carrying outimage processing corresponding to image data or a drawing command,generated by various types of applications.

Digitization has spread to the field of printing processing, and thetrend toward DTP (Desktop Publishing) has advanced. In this way, a pagelayout is generated by making, treatment (trimming), editing, and thelike of an image in a processing device such as a personal computer, awork station, or the like. A film is prepared on the basis of this pagelayout, or a printing plate for printing is prepared by directly writingonto a printing plate (CTP: Computer to Plate).

On the other hand, when proofing is carried out in advance of printingor the like which uses an actual printing plate, a page layout isdisplayed on a monitor by using the WYSIWYG function, or is printed outby a printout device such as a laser printer, a page printer, or thelike.

In printing using a printing plate, a thinner line can be specified(represented) than in printing using a printer. Namely, resolution of2400 dpi or more can be obtained in printing using a printing plate,whereas the resolution is about 400 dpi to 600 dpi in printing using aprinter.

Accordingly, even in the case of a thin line which can be specified inprinting using a printing plate, there are cases in which the thin linedisappears or becomes blurred on a printed matter (a printing sheet) byusing a printer.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 6-231238,a thin line is converted to a line having a thickness which can beoutputted by a printer, and occurrences of disappearance, blurring, andthe like of the thin line are thereby prevented at the time of printingby using a printer.

However, a printed matter, which is prepared by carrying out printingprocessing by converting a thin line which cannot be represented by aprinter to a thin line which can be represented by the printer, isdifferent from a printed matter prepared by using a printing plate. Forexample, even in the case of a line image of a thickness by whichblurring and the like occur when a printing plate is used, the lineimage is represented as a line image in which blurring does not occur,on a printed matter prepared by using a printer.

Further, in a case in which a thin line which cannot be outputted by aprinter is merely converted to a thickness which can be outputted by theprinter, there are cases in which even thin line images, at whichblurring or the like occurs at the time of printing by using a printingplate, are outputted. Therefore, because it cannot be verified how theimage will appear in the printed matter, accurate proofing is of coursedifficult, and what portions are different is unclear until a printingplate is prepared and printing processing is actually carried out.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been achieved in consideration of theabove-described facts, and an object thereof is to provide an imageprocessing device in which it is clear that a line image is a line imageat which blurring or the like occurs when printing is carried out byusing a printing plate when, for example, image processing or the likeis carried out on the basis of a drawing command or image data generatedby an image processing terminal such as a work station, a personalcomputer, or the like.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present inventionprovides an image processing device which carries out image processingon the basis of at least one of a drawing command and image datagenerated at an image processing terminal, the image processing devicecomprising: an extracting section for extracting a predetermined lineimage from the at least one of the image data and the drawing command;and a processing section for effecting predetermined processing suchthat the line image extracted by the extracting section can berecognized as the predetermined line image.

In accordance with the invention, the predetermined processing, forexample, image conversion is carried out such that it is clarified thatthe line image extracted by the extracting section is the predeterminedline image. In this way, for example, by carrying out image conversionsuch that it is clarified that the line image is a line image at whichblurring will occur at the time of printing by using a printing plate,when printing processing is carried out by using a lower-resolutionprinter, it can be clarified that the image is an image at which thereis the possibility that blurring or disappearance will occur on aprinted matter obtained by using the printing plate.

Also, the present invention provides an image processing device whichcarries out image processing on the basis of at least one of a drawingcommand and image data generated at an image processing terminal, theimage processing device comprising: an extracting section for extractinga predetermined line image from the at least one of the image data andthe drawing command; an image converting section for converting the lineimage extracted by the extracting section into a predetermined image;and a warning section for warning that image conversion is carried outby the image converting section on the line image extracted by theextracting section.

In accordance with the invention, when, on the basis of the image dataor the drawing command, the extracting section extracts thepredetermined line image set in advance, warning is carried out by thewarning section. In this way, for example, when an image, at whichblurring or disappearance will occur on a printed matter prepared byusing a printing plate, is extracted, warning can be carried out bygiving notice of extraction of such the line image, or the like.

Accordingly, even if proof printing is carried out by using a printoutdevice such as a printer whose resolution is lower than a printed matterprepared by using a printing plate, appropriate proofing is possible.

In this invention, the warning section may give notice, by display on animage processing terminal, that the predetermined line image has beenextracted by the extracting section, or may carry out image conversionsuch that the extracted image is clarified, or may carry out thesetogether. Namely, the warning section may set the image conversion.

As such image conversion, the processing section (the image convertingsection) may convert the line image extracted by the extracting sectioninto a line image having a thickness greater than or equal to apredetermined thickness, or may convert a color of the line imageextracted by the extracting section into a predetermined color, or maycarry out these conversions together.

Moreover, the processing section (the image converting section) mayerase the line image extracted by the extracting section, or maygenerates image data of only the line image extracted by the extractingsection.

Moreover, any of these converting methods may be designated from animage processing terminal.

On the other hand, the extracting section may extract the line imagefrom raster data generated on the basis of the image data, or mayextract the line image from the descriptions of a drawing command.Further, when the line image is extracted from raster data, pixels in apredetermined region and patterns set in advance may be compared.Moreover, the invention is not limited to the same, and a conventionallyknown and arbitrary image extracting method can be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a printing system applied to thepresent embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the basics of image processing withrespect to a line image in the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams showing one example of dialogscarrying out settings of a thin line warning function, wherein FIG. 3Ashows settings by a pull-down menu, and FIG. 3B shows one example of thesettings.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing one example of extracting of pixelsforming a line image.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are flowcharts showing one example of image conversion.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing raster data.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing examples of mask patterns forcarrying out extracting of pixels.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example of processing applied tothe invention, and is a flowchart showing one example carrying outprevention of image erasing and blurring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. InFIG. 1, a schematic structure of a printing system 10 applied to thepresent embodiment is shown. The printing system I0 has an imageprocessing device 32 structured by adding a PCI board havingpredetermined functions to, for example, a personal computer (PC) havinga general structure. Further, a printer 14 is connected as a printoutdevice to the image processing device 32, and can print out an imageprocessed at the image processing device 32.

Further, a personal computer, a work station, and the like are connectedas client terminals 16 to the image processing device 32. The clientterminals 16 are used for DTP which carries out image processing, suchas making, treatment, editing, and the like of an image, by usingvarious types of applications. The image processing device 32 carriesout image processing for carrying out printing processing on the basisof drawing commands from these client terminals 16.

Namely, in the printing system 10, the image processing device 32 isstructured in a print server 12. Note that the print server 12 may havea structure in which a plurality of printers 14 are connected to a printcontroller 20 via a two way interface 18 such as an Ethernet or thelike, or the plurality of client terminals 16 are networked via anetwork interface 22, as a LAN, a WAN, or the like.

A ROM, a RAM, an external memory such as a HD is provided at the printserver 12. The print server 12 operates in accordance with a operatingprogram stored in the ROM, and executes processings for system graphics,images, characters, tables, or the like, on the basis of programs storedin the ROM or the external memory. Further, the print server 12 isprovided with input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse (neither areillustrated), or the like, and a display device such as a CRT display orthe like. Further, in the print server 12 as well, printing processingof an image displayed on the display device is possible (WYSIWYGfunction).

An image processing section 24 is provided in the image processingdevice 32. The image processing section 24 generates raster data fromimage data on the basis of a drawing command. Due to the raster databeing controlled by the print controller 20 and being outputted to theprinter 14, a printed matter based on the image data can be obtained.

On the other hand, by using various types of DTP applications such as,for example, PhotoShop, Illustrator (both trade names of products ofAdobe Systems Incorporated), QuarkXPress (the trade name of a product ofQuark, Inc.), or the like, the client terminal 16 carries out imageprocessings such as image making, treatment, editing, and the like. Atthis time, these applications generate a page layout in PostScriptformat or the like.

In the present embodiment, the page layout generated by the clientterminal 16 is used in preparing of a film used in exposing a printingplate by a color electronic plate making system (CEPS), or is used inexposing a printing plate in direct plate making (CTP). Printingprocessing is carried out by a printing plate prepared on the basis ofthis page layout.

In a color electronic plate making system or a direct plate makingsystem, before preparing of a printing plate based on the page layoutgenerated by the client terminal 16, proof printing, which prepares aprinted matter for proofing, called a color proof or the like (and a“proof” hereinafter), is carried out.

When carrying out this proof printing, the drawing commands and theimage file including the page layout, from the client terminal 16, areoutputted to the printer server 12 as a print job. In this way, theprint server 12 carries out printing processing on the basis of the pagelayout.

The page layout inputted from the client terminal 16 may be in YMCKformat, or may be in RBG format, or may be such that both of theseformats are used. In the image processing section 24, raster data of therespective colors of Y, M, C, K are generated from the page layout onthe basis of the drawing commands, and are outputted to the printer 14.

A thin line warning function, which is called, for example, a hair linewarning function, is provided as one of the printing functions in theimage processing device 32. The thin line warning function is structuredby a fine line image extracting section 26, a fine line image convertingsection 28, and a warning processing section 30.

The fine line image extracting section 26 extracts pixels forming apredetermined thin line image from the drawing command or the rasterdata generated at the image processing section 24. The fine line imageextracting section 26 applied to the present embodiment extracts a thinline by which there is the possibility that blurring or disappearancewill occur on the printed matter printed by using a printing plate, forexample, of course when the proof is printed out by the printer 14. Notethat the line image extracted in the present embodiment may be astraight line or a circular arc, or may be a curve of any of variousshapes.

Further, the fine line image converting section 28 carries out apredetermined processing on an image formed by the pixels extracted bythe fine line image extracting section 26. Moreover, the warningprocessing section 30 carries out warning processing so as to clarifythat a fine line image (a thin line image) has been extracted at thefine line image extracting section 26. In this way, it is clarified thata proof image, formed on the proof, outputted by the printer 14 isdifferent from the original page layout.

Here, one example of processing on thin lines or the like in the imageprocessing device 32 will be described with reference to the figures.Note that, hereinafter, an example is described in which a line image ofa predetermined thickness or less is extracted from the raster datagenerated at the image processing section 24 on the basis of the imagedata and drawing commands. However, extraction of thin lines in theinvention is not limited to this, and thin line extraction may becarried out from descriptions of, for example, the drawing commands orthe like.

In FIG. 2, a flow of the basic processing of thin line warning is shown.In this flowchart, in the first step 100, it is verified whether thethin line warning function is set or not. If the thin line warningfunction is set (affirmative judgement in step 100), the routineproceeds to step 102, and extracting of pixels forming a thin line imagefrom the generated raster data is carried out. Further, in step 104, itis verified whether or not pixels forming a thin line of a predeterminedthickness or less have been extracted.

Here, when a thin line (pixels forming the thin line) of a predeterminedthickness or less has been extracted, the judgement in step 104 isaffirmative, and the routine proceeds to step 106. Note that, when thereis no thin line of a predetermined thickness or less, the judgement instep 104 is negative, and the thin line warning processing is finished.

In step 106, it is notified that a thin line of a predeterminedthickness or less has been extracted. This notification displays awarning message warning of the existence of a thin line at which thereis the possibility that blurring or the like may occur, on anunillustrated monitor of the client terminal 16 which requested theprint job.

In the next step 108, processing on the line image formed by theextracted pixels is carried out. As this processing, for example, thecorresponding image on a printed matter outputted from the printer 14 iserased, or the thin line is converted into a thick line or a color ofthe thin line is converted so as to have a different color, such thatthe corresponding image is clarified, thereby a warning image isgenerated. Further, the corresponding thin line may be extracted so asto be clarified, and image conversion may be carried out so as to printout the extracted thin line image separately.

When image conversion is completed, in step 110, print setting iscarried out such that an image corresponding to the converted contentsis printed out.

In this way, for example, even if an image is printed out from theprinter 14 as an image at which blurring or disappearance does notoccur, it can be clarified that there is the possibility that blurringor disappearance may occur on a printed matter obtained by using aprinting plate. Further, by clarifying such an image, appropriateproofing can be carried out.

Generally, in printing by using a printing plate, a resolution of about1200 dpi to 3600 dpi can be obtained. However, in the printer 14 such asa color laser printer, a page printer, or the like, the resolution isabout 400 dpi to 600 dpi. Further, in a printout from the printer 14, animage which is finer than the resolution of the printer 14 is convertedto an image in accordance with the resolution of the printer 14.

Accordingly, a line image, at which blurring or disappearance may occurin a printed matter prepared by using a printing plate, is not printedon a printed matter prepared by the printer 14 with the sameappropriateness as the printed matter prepared by using the printingplate.

On the other hand, the thin line warning function extracts line imagesat which there is the possibility that blurring or disappearance mayoccur on a printed matter obtained by using a printing plate, and issuesa warning. Appropriate proofing is thereby possible.

Here, a concrete example of the thin line warning will be described. Inthe image processing device 32, as the thin line warning function, whena line image of a predetermined thickness or less is extracted, awarning message expressing that a thin line has been extracted isdisplayed on an unillustrated monitor of the client terminal 16.Further, when image processing for the extracted thin line is set, bycarrying out image processing based on the setting, the correspondingimage is clarified on a printed matter (proof) outputted from theprinter 14.

Such a thin line warning function is set by, for example, the dialogsshown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, or the like, when a print job is outputtedfrom the client terminal 16.

In the image processing device 32, as the processing for a thin line,any of “erasing” of the extracted thin line, “extracting” for separatelyprinting out only the extracted thin line as a warning page,“erasing+extracting” for erasing the thin line from the proof andseparately printing out the extracted thin line, and “warning” forconverting the extracted thin line so as to have a warning color or soas to be a thick line, can be selected. Further, when “warning” isselected, the thickness of the line at the time of converting the thinline to a thick line or the color at the time of converting to a warningcolor can be set. Therefore, the corresponding thin line is clarified ona printed matter outputted from the printer 14.

Further, in this thin line warning function, a threshold value of theextracted thin line can be set. Note that, a type of warning can bedesignated by a pull-down menu. By inputting the numeric value of thethreshold value, the thickness of the thin line to be extracted can beselected.

In FIG. 4, an overview of extraction of a thin line from the raster datagenerated in the image processing section 24 and a processing for theextracted thin line are shown. Further, in FIG. 5, an overview of imageconversion processing for the extracted thin line when a thin line imageis extracted is shown. Note that one example of the extraction of pixels(thin lines) is shown. The pixel extraction is not limited to this, andany conventionally known, arbitrary algorithm can be applied.

When image conversion is carried out in the image processing device 32,the original raster data are stored in an image memory Sc, and rasterdata based on a designated processing are stored in an image memory Dc.Further, in the case of a color image, extracting of thin lines iscarried out with respect to raster data of the four colors of C, M, Y, K(color counter c=0, 1, 2, 3). Note that, hereinafter, description willbe given with the element data of the pixels (colored pixels) formingthe image being “black”, and the element data of pixels (uncoloredpixels) which are non-image portions being “white”.

Here, in extracting the pixels, attention is focused on an arbitrarypixel di,j (hereinafter referred to as “pixel of interest di,j”) in theraster data shown in FIG. 6. It is verified whether the element data ofthe pixel of interest di,j is “black” (image portion) or “white”(non-image portion). At this time, when the resolution of a printedmatter obtained by using a printing plate is 2400 dpi, extracting ofpixels forming the thin line from raster data of 1200 dpi is carriedout.

Note that range at which the extracting of pixels is carried out (m×npixels: 0≦i≦m−1, 0≦j≦n−1) may be one page of the proof. Or, one page maybe divided into a plurality of regions, and extracting of pixels may besuccessively carried out in each divisional region. Note that when theraster data of one page is used, the element data of the pixels of aregion other than the m×n pixels region (a region corresponding to amargin portion at a peripheral portion of the proof) is “white”.

When the element data of the pixel of interest di,j is “black”, it isjudged whether or not the pixel of interest di,j is a pixel forming athin line, on the basis of the element data in a region of p×q pixels(for example, the 3×3 pixels shown by the solid lines in FIG. 6)including the pixel of interest di,j.

At this time, mask patterns shown in FIG. 7 are stored in the fine lineimage extracting section 26. It is judged whether or not the pixel ofinterest di,j is a pixel forming a thin line, on the basis of judgingwhether or not a predetermined region including the pixel of interestdi,j corresponds to any of the mask patterns. Note that, in FIG. 7, maskpatterns corresponding to regions of 3×3 pixels are shown as examples.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is executed when the raster data of therespective colors of C, M, Y, K are generated in a state in which thethin line warning function is turned on. In the first step 120, initialsetting is carried out. In this initial setting, a row variable i, acolumn variable j, and a color counter c are reset (i=0, j=0, c=0). Notethat, in a case of four colors of C, M, Y, K, the color counter c=0, 1,2, 3.

Thereafter, in step 102, element data of the pixel of interest di,jspecified by the row variable i and the column variable j is read, andin step 124, it is judged whether or not the element data is “black”. Atthis time, when the element data of the pixel of interest di,j is“white” and is a pixel of the non-image portion, the determination instep 124 is negative. The routine proceeds to step 126, where the columnvariable j is incremented. In step 128, it is judged whether or not thecolumn variable j has reached a predetermined value n.

In this way, if judgements with respect to the pixels of interest di,jof one row are not completed, the judgement in step 128 is affirmative.The routine proceeds to step 122 where a judgement with respect to thenext pixel of interest di,j is carried out. Further, when the judgementswith respect to the pixels of interest di,j of one row have beencompleted, the judgement in step 128 is negative, and the routineproceeds to step 130.

In this step 130, the column variable j is reset (j=0), and the rowvariable i is incremented (i=i+1). In step 132, it is judged whether ornot the row variable i has reached a predetermined value. If thejudgements with respect to the pixels of interest of one row have notbeen completed, the judgement in step 132 is affirmative, and theroutine proceeds to step 122. Further, if the judgements with respect tothe pixel of interest di,j of one row have been completed, the judgementin step 132 is negative, and the routine proceeds to step 134.

In step 134, the row variable i and the column variable j are reset, andthe color counter c is incremented. In step 136, it is judged whether ornot the color counter c is less than a predetermined value. If the colorcounter c is less than a predetermined value, it is judged thatjudgements with respect to the raster data of all of the colors have notbe completed (an affirmative judgement in step 136), and the routineproceeds to step 122. Further, when judgements with respect to theraster data of the respective colors of C, M, Y, K are completed, thejudgement in step 136 is negative, and the extracting processing of thethin image is completed.

On the other hand, when the element data of the pixel of interest di,jis “black”, the judgement in step 124 is affirmative, and the routineproceeds to step 138. In this step 138, element data of the pixels (inthe present embodiment, 3×3 pixels as an example) in a predeterminedregion, of which the pixel of interest di,j is located in the center,are read. Thereafter, in step 140, a pattern formed by the pixels in thepredetermined region and the mask patterns set in advance are compared.In step 142, it is verified whether or not there is a coincidentpattern. If there is no coincident pattern, the judgement in step 142 isnegative, and the routine proceeds to step 126.

On the other hand, when there is the coincident pattern, the judgementin step 142 is affirmative, and the routine proceeds to step 144, whereit is set that the pixel of interest di,j is a pixel forming a thinline.

In the image processing device 24, a warning expressing that a thin linehas been extracted is issued on the basis of the result of setting, anda processing for the extracted pixel is carried out.

In FIG. 5, one example of a conversion processing on an image formed byextracted pixels is shown. Note that, in the image conversion processingwhich will be described hereinafter, a thickness of line at the time ofconverting a thin line to a thick line is represented as a number ofpixels Ww, and the respective color components of colors to be converted(components of the respective colors of C, M, Y, K) are represented asWc (c=0 to 3).

Due to the color counter c being reset in the first step 150, thisflowchart is set for the raster data of the first color image.Thereafter, in step 152, it is verified whether the designatedprocessing is erasing of the extracted image, and in next step 154, itis verified whether the designated processing is converting to a warningimage.

Here, when the designated processing is set to erasing of the extractedimage, the judgement in step 152 is affirmative, and the routineproceeds to step 156. In this step 156, data of the image memory Sc iscopied to the image memory Dc, and in step 158, the extracted pixel ofinterest di,j is read. Thereafter, in step 160, the element data of thepixel of interest di,j is converted from “black” to “white”, and theresult of conversion is stored in the image memory Dc, as the elementdata of the corresponding pixel di,j.

Thereafter, in step 162, it is verified whether or not there is a nextpixel of interest (extracted pixel) di,j. When there is the nextextracted pixel of interest di,j, the judgement in step 162 isaffirmative. The routine proceeds to step 158, where a processing withrespect to the next pixel of interest di,j is carried out.

In this way, when an image processing on the raster data of one color iscompleted and the judgement in step 162 is negative, the routineproceeds to step 164. After the color counter c is incremented, it isverified whether the value of the color counter c is less than apredetermined value (step 166).

In this way, by converting the element data of the pixels of interestdi,j extracted for the respective colors of C, M, Y, K, image data inwhich a line image formed by the extracted pixels of interest di,j areeliminated can be obtained.

On the other hand, as a conversion processing, when a designation isgiven to obtain a printed matter (a warning page) in which a line imageformed by the pixel of interest di,j is extracted, the judgements insteps 152, 154, are negative and the routine proceeds to step 168. Inthis step 168, data of the image memory Dc, in which the converted imageis stored, is cleared. In this way, setting is carried out so as toobtain a printed matter which is a white (blank) sheet.

Thereafter, in step 170, the element data of the extracted pixel ofinterest di,j is read, and the element data of the pixel of interestdi,j is stored as the element data of the corresponding pixel di,j inthe image memory Dc (step 172).

Further, in step 174, it is verified whether there are remaining pixelsof interest di,j. When there are pixels of interest di,j, the judgementis affirmative, and the routine proceeds to step 170. Moreover, in step176, due to the color counter c being incremented, the next color isset. In step 178, it is verified whether image conversion with respectto all of the colors has been completed.

Due to image conversion being carried out in this way, raster data,which can output a printed matter at which only thin lines areextracted, is generated at the image memory Dc.

When conversion to a warning image (not image processing or imageextraction mentioned above) is designated, after the judgement in step152 is negative, the judgement in step 154 is affirmative. The routineproceeds to step 180, and data of the image memory Sc (image memoriesS₀, S₁, S₂, S₃) are copied to the image memory Dc (image memories D₀,D₁, D₂, D₃).

Thereafter, in step 182, the extracted pixel of interest di,j is read,and a line width Ww is set in step 184. Note that, when there is nodesignation of the line width Ww and no conversion to a thick line, theline width Ww=1, therefore a=I and b=j.

In next step 186, the element data of a pixel da,b is set to “black”,and the data is copied to the corresponding pixel in the image memoryDc.

Further, in step 188, it is judged whether conversion to a warningcolor, which is color conversion of an extracted thin line, has beendesignated or not. When a conversion to a warning color has beendesignated, the judgement in step 188 is affirmative, and the routineproceeds to step 190. In this step 190, the data of the pixel da,b isconverted to data corresponding to a designated warning color Wc(warning colors W₀, W₁, W₂, W₃), and is copied to the image memory Dc(image memories D₀, D₁, D₂, D₃).

Thereafter, in step 192, a column variable b is incremented (b=b+1), andin step 194, it is verified whether a width in a direction of the columnis within the set line width Ww. Further, in step 196, the columnvariable b is reset to its initial value (the value set in step 184),and a row variable a is incremented (a=a+1). In step 198, it is verifiedwhether a width in a direction of the row is within the set line widthWw.

In this way, conversion processing with respect to the pixels around theextracted pixel of interest di,j is carried out until a line imagehaving a predetermined width is formed (during the time, the judgementin step 194 or step 198 is affirmative), with the extracted pixel ofinterest di,j being center.

Further, in step 200, it is verified whether there is a next pixel ofinterest di,j. When conversion processing with respect to the pixels ofinterest di,j is completed and the judgement in step 200 is negative,the routine proceeds to step 202. After the color counter c isincremented, it is verified whether the color counter c is less than apredetermined value. If the color counter c has not reached thepredetermined value, the routine proceeds to step 182, and processingfor the next color is carried out.

Due to image conversion being carried out in this way, a printed matterin which extracted thin lines are converted to warning color, a printedmatter in which extracted thin lines are converted to thick lines, or aprinted matter in which extracted thin lines are converted to thicklines and to warning color as well, can be obtained. By the printedmatter, an image, at which there is the possibility that blurring ordisappearance will occur at the time of printing processing using aprinting plate, is clarified.

Accordingly, by a proof outputted from the printer 14, appropriateproofing for image data can be carried out.

Note that description was given above of a case in which processing,with respect to an image extracted on the basis of the thin line warningfunction, is set in advance in a drawing command. However, the thin linewarning function may be set in advance in the print server 12. Namely,regardless of the presence/absence of setting of the thin line warningfunction in a drawing command, the print server 12 may carry out on/offsetting of the thin line warning function and a designation of aconversion image, from the application which generated the image data orthe drawing command, or from the client terminal 16.

Further, in the present embodiment, although it is described thatconversion processing of an image is designated, it suffices to set atleast the on/off of the thin line warning function. In this case, when apredetermined thin line is extracted by the thin line warning functionand a warning is given to the client terminal 16, input of designationfor the conversion processing may be required.

Namely, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8, pixel extracting is carriedout, and warning is given for a thin line whose thickness is less thanor equal to a predetermined value (step 112). At this time, a menu forselecting the conversion processing is also displayed on the monitor ofthe client terminal 16. When a designation of the conversion processingis inputted from the client terminal 16, the routine proceeds to step114, and the designation of the conversion processing is read.Thereafter, in step 108, conversion processing based on the designationis carried out.

Further, a preview screen, at which the extracted line image isclarified, may be displayed at the client terminal 16. In this case,interruption of the printing processing can be designated from theclient terminal 16.

Note that the above-described present embodiment does not limit thestructure of the invention. For example, in the present embodiment, anexample of preparing a proof was described. However, the presentinvention is not limited to the same. Any arbitrary structure can beused provided that, when it is judged, for any of drawing commands fromthe client terminal 16, that there is the possibility that blurring orthe like will occur in a printed-out image, conversion processing withrespect to the corresponding image is carried out and a warning is givento clarify the converted contents.

Further, in the present embodiment, description is given of a case inwhich the image processing device of the invention is applied to theprint server 12. However, the invention is not limited to the same. Theimage processing device of the invention may be provided, for example,at an intermediate server disposed between a plurality of clientterminals 16 and a print server or a printer, as an image processingdevice which carries out processing on the basis of image data inputtedfrom the client terminals. Or, the image processing device of theinvention may be provided on a network together with the clientterminals 16, and may be used as an image processing device carrying outa predetermined processing with respect to image data inputted from theclient terminals.

In accordance with the above-described invention, when an image, such asa line image or the like, at which there is the possibility thatblurring or disappearance will occur, for example, on a printed matterprinted out by preparing a printing plate, is extracted, a warning isgiven such that this image is clarified. Further, due to imageconversion being carried out such that this image is clarified, anexcellent effect is achieved in that accurate proofing is possible evenwhen proof printing or the like is carried out.

1. An image processing device, comprising: a user interface includingfirst and second display regions, the first display region configured tospecify a first line width, the second display region capable ofspecifying a second line width which is thicker than the first linewidth; an extracting section that extracts a first line image having thefirst line width or less from a page layout generated by an applicationprogram in reference to the first line width specified by the firstdisplay region; and an image converting section that converts the firstline image extracted by the extracting section to a second line imagehaving the second line width.
 2. The image processing device accordingto claim 1, wherein the first and second display regions are displayedconcurrently so as to allow a user to specify the first and second linewidth on a same dialog box.
 3. An image processing device according toclaim 1, wherein the first display region is configured to specify aline width which has a possibility that at least one of a blurring and adisappearance occurs on a printed matter printed out by preparing aprinting plate.
 4. An image processing device according to claim 1,wherein the second display region is configured to specify a line widthwhich excludes a possibility that at least one of a blurring and adisappearance occurs on a printed matter printed out by preparing aprinting plate.
 5. An image processing method, comprising: displayingfirst and second display regions, the first display region configured tospecify a first line width, the second display region capable ofspecifying a second line width which is thicker than the first linewidth; extracting a first line image having the first line width or lessfrom a page layout generated by an application program in reference tothe first line width specified by the first display region; andconverting the extracted first line image to a second line image havingthe second line width.
 6. The image processing method according to claim5, wherein the first and second display regions are displayedconcurrently so as to allow a user to specify the first and second linewidth on a same dialog box;
 7. An image processing method according toclaim 5, wherein the first display region is configured to specify aline width which has a possibility that at least one of a blurring and adisappearance occurs on a printed matter printed out by preparing aprinting plate.
 8. An image processing method according to claim 5,wherein the second display region is configured to specify a line widthwhich excludes a possibility that at least one of a blurring and adisappearance occurs on a printed matter printed out by preparing aprinting plate.
 9. A computer readable medium storing a program causinga computer to execute a process for image processing, the processcomprising: displaying first and second display regions, the firstdisplay region configured to specify a first line width, the seconddisplay region capable of specifying a second line width which isthicker than the first line width; extracting a first line image havingthe first line width or less from a page layout generated by anapplication program in reference to the first line width specified bythe first display region; and converting the extracted first line imageto a second line image having the second line width.